Leyte Gulf landing featured in PhlPost stamps

MANILA, Philippines - The Leyte Gulf landing that marked the victory of American and Filipino soldiers over Japanese forces during the Second World War is now immortalized in stamps.

The Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) yesterday released stamps featuring the Leyte Gulf landing in commemoration of the event’s 70th anniversary.

The stamps feature in sepia color the picture of US Army General Douglas MacArthur leading American troops after they landed at Red Beach in Palo, Leyte to help Filipino soldiers fight the Japanese Army.

PHLPost printed 80,000 copies of the Leyte Gulf landing stamp, which is sold at P10 each. The special stamps are available in the market until Oct. 19, 2015 or until supply lasts.

On Oct. 20, 1944 the US Army landed on assigned beaches and pushed across a 6.4-kilometer stretch of beach between Tacloban airfield and Palo River.

By 1:30 p.m., MacArthur made his dramatic landing and waded ashore with then Philippine President Sergio Osmeña by his side. MacArthur then announced through a radio broadcast that he had returned.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf launched the Philippine campaign for the recapture and liberation of the entire Philippine archipelago to end almost three years of Japanese occupation.

Also known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle in modern history. It was fought in the seas surrounding Leyte from Oct. 23 to 26, 1944.